SUNDAY'S SCRIPTURE
Luke 1: 26-38
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"Embracing the Star- Child in each of us"
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A Look From Brook
Advent 101: to "treasured up" and "ponder"
On our trip to Brooklyn, NY, a couple of thoughts hit me that I’d like to share one of them this morning. Perhaps these ponderings are in the spirit of Advent: a time where we are called to sit in the darkness a bit and see just what we are missing in our lives. One of the big events Cyndy and I were able to participate in while we were in NY was visit to the NY Metropolitan Museum. One of our friends, Jayson Dobney, is the curator of the Music Museum at the Met, and while we were there he shared how being closed for a while during the pandemic helped the staff at the Met realize something very special about the Metropolitan Museum that they had forgotten…the fact that it’s a public space. He shared a story of an elderly man who had always been a big fan of the Met. In fact, he proposed to his wife to be on a bench in one of the larger spaces there. Every year the couple would come back and sit on that bench and treasure and ponder the great gift their love had been and was.
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Our Bear Creek Pic today is Pastor Brook and Cyndy with their son, Ben, and his girl friend, Iris! We had a great time in New York!
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Pick An Angel, Be An Angel
We still have a few angels on the giving tree to give a Christmas gift to each of our Camp Unity friends. If you care so moved, pick an angel, sign the sheet by the number you picked. Select a gift from the list, wrap it with angel attached. Return gifts to church no later than December 12. Gifts will be given to campers at their December 14 dinner. Thank you so much for sharing Christmas with our camp friends.
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It’s not to late to turn in your 2022 generosity pledge and service cards! Just mail them in, bring them by the office, or go online and fill out our easy to fill out form at bcumc.org/give. Thank you for your generosity!
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Please check your email (junk email potentially) for your Q3 giving statements from BCUMC.
Thanks!
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Coordinating Board Meetings 2021
Saturday, December 11 9am - 11am
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Bear Creek UMC Christmas Candlelight Concert Set for Sun., Dec. 12th, @ 5pm! Special Choir numbers, Bell Choir, Violin, Candlelight, and more! Call a friend, get your family together, and join us for this special night of celebrating the gift of Christ at Christmas!
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Feeding the 5,000! We are collecting cans and non-perishables at BCUMC from now until Feb. 13 (S Bowl). Bring items to sanctuary! You can also go online and give at bcumc.org/give!
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Alternative Giving - BCUMC’s BIG CHRISTMAS GIVE
Do you have someone in your life who you struggle to buy for? If so, Bear Creek UMC’s God’s hands team has a solution! With so many places / people needing help, why not donate to a charity in someone’s name?
This Advent/Christmas season we have picked 3 organizations to give to:
- Afghanistan Family Ministries - Can you imagine relocating to a new Country during COVID-19? For 3 or 4 years, BCUMC has been reaching out to dozens of families who have relocated to the Seattle area. Through the leadership of Debby Heimfeld, we have been able to provide clothes, toys, furniture, blankets, pots & pans and other essential items. If you give to this fund, be assured that it will help a child and family in need.
- BCUMC Helping Hands Fund - Every week Pastor Brook is asked to help someone in our community with rental assistance, utility assistance, and more. This fund helps people stay in their homes and not fall victim to homelessness. Much of this money goes to support some of our own church members who have lost jobs and more.
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Counseling Centers of North Puget Sound - This Christian based counseling center offers services in many communities in the North Puget Sound. Their goal is to make counseling services affordable and nearby. Fees for their services are based on a sliding scale and donations help to offset the cost so that they are able to help as many people as possible. Your donation will go directly to there fund which will assist folks struggling with depression, self-esteem or trauma. Will also provide space for sessions to occur in our Church. You can learn more about them here: www.counselingnps.com.
To give to BCUMC’s big Christmas give:
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Go online to: www.BCUMC.org, click on the “Give” page, then click ‘Make a Donation’. Make sure to select the charity of your choice in the form.
There will be cards and descriptions of each non-profit in the narthex at church starting Sunday December 5th. The cards/descriptions can then be given to the person you are donating on behalf of. Please contact Karen Robinson at 949-637-8951 with any additional questions.
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Parent’s Afternoon Out Set for tonight from 3-6 pm!
Parents out there...we know how tough it can get, especially around the holidays to get some time to shop, or whatever. So come 3 hours on us. We’ll take your kiddos and run through the Christmas Pageant, do crafts, and play! We’ll even feed them!
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We’re Having Children’s Christmas Pageant this year on Sun., Dec. 19. Practice begins today after worship. We will also practice during our Parent’s Night out! We hope you can join us! We also plan to have a practice Saturday, Dec. 18th.
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CAMP UNITY EASTSIDE IS HERE!!
Camp Unity has moved into our parking lot and will be staying with us until February 24th. There are currently 16 campers. These are folks from all walks of like and all have a moon goal of moving into a more prosperous and sustainable future.
They are all fully vaccinated and have passed a background check and drug test before they are allowed into the camp.
Can you help with any of the following:
1. Be a Gift Angel! Can you purchase a gift for one of the campers? Each camper has filled out a “wish” card and those will be available at church on Sunday. If you would like to participate and can’t get to church please contact Marge Kuykendall or Karen Robinson to coordinate. Gifts will be handed out to the campers on Tuesday, December 14th.
2. Tuesday night dinners - we are providing Tuesday night dinners for the campers and staff. There are several “Tuesdays” available in January and February. Signup at church or email the office at Office@bcumc.org and we can add your name to the calendar. Dinner time is 6:00 pm and the meal would be something you would serve your own family. Please contact Karen Robinson with any questions.
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NEW “SUNDAY SCHOOL” CLASS SET FOR MONDAY, OCT 11TH
Led by Stephen Ministries
Navigating the Voices of Aging
O God, from my youth you have taught me, And I still proclaim your wondrous deeds So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, Until I proclaim your might To all the generations to come. Psalm 71:17-18 The new norm. When did I become the parent? I know this isn’t who they truly are. I pray each day and night for strength, for understanding, for patience. I pray for their health, their protection, and most of all, their peace. Do you hear your voice in any of the previous thoughts? You are not alone. Bear Creek will begin a new class every Monday evening by Zoom, beginning October 11 at 7:00 p.m. If distancing issues allow, we will also have an in-person gathering one Sunday a month for the duration of the class. “Voices of Aging,” by Missy Buchanan, and “Chicken Soup for the Soul, Navigating Eldercare and Dementia,” compiled by Amy Newmark, will be the reading material for the class. These are not study books, rather they are designed to let you know you are not alone, and to open honest, perhaps sorrowful, and even joyful dialog with others who have experienced or are experiencing the new challenges within your life and your family. The class will be led by Connie Gagnon and Sue Burkholder. For more information, contact Pastor Brook or Connie Gagnon. Please contact the church office to register, so that you will be included in the Zoom connection
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As you may have noticed, the state of Washington has new rules in place concerning masks and vaccines. As a church, we have some “religious” exemptions, but as a people who are committed to being “in community” with those around us, we have decided to follow the mandates set out for all Washingtonians. So this means that we are asking that you all get vaccinated. We won’t require this at the worship door, but we do ask that if you come to worship at Bear Creek UMC that you either be up to date on your Covid-19 vaccinations, or that you get a current Covid-19 test before you come. Of course this does not pertain to children, as they are not able to be vaccinated yet. I trust that we can be on the honor system on this, and that we will all continue to day all we can to keep safe in our building and out in the world! Just so you know, all of our staff is up to date on their vaccines. When Pastor Brook and Cyndy travelled to South Dakota recently, the first thing they dis was get tested. The tests were negative!
By the way, I recently asked an expert on the Covid-19 virus, about the safety of our sanctuary the way we have it set up, and he said, that given the height of our ceilings, the distance we have for our chairs, the plexiglass in front of our pulpit, (along with the wearing of masks and the knowledge that our membership is very vaccination conscious) that this church is very safe for folks during worship...as long as we do all we can to follow the rules. Let’s keep following them folks!
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Just so you know: Every worship service we have had online is available on our website at: bcumc.org/worship
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Check out our website at https://www.bcumc.org/! We have updated it to make it more friendly to anyone wanting to plug in to what is going on at Bear Creek UMC right now. Here are some of the features I suggest checking into:
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Instant Church Directory Online
1. Download the App from the App Store search for “Instant Church Directory”
2. Open the app and click “create login”
3. Enter email that is listed in the family portion of the directory.
4. Create password and retype to confirm password
5. Check your inbox for an email from Instant Church Directory
6. Verify your email address by clicking on the link sent to you in the email.
7. Once you confirm your email, close browser and return to App to login.
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New Giving App! We now have ‘Vanco Faith’ as an app that you can use to set up your giving electronically. You can use your bank account info, a debit card, or a credit card to make one-time payments, reoccurring payments, etc. (Note: this replaces the ‘Give Plus’ app)
Steps: (1) Download Vanco Faith app shown below (2) Once downloaded, open app and enter our church code on the welcome screen - code is NKNBJG (3) Set up your login/password OR use your current login info if you’ve used Give Plus in the past (4) You’re in! Set up payment.
Questions? Please contact Janelle in the church office 425-788-2953 or email the pastor: pastor@bcumc.org
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If you'd like to give
electronically you can do that a couple of ways:
1) You can go to our website at bcumc.org and navigate to the Give>Give Online tabs and there you will see one time and recurring options for weekly and monthly giving.
2) You can go to your Apple App Store or Google Play and download the “Vanco Faith” App to your phone. On the app you can set up one time and/or recurring options for weekly and monthly giving.
3) We can also set up a monthly electronic withdrawal from your bank account. If you want to do that it is best to call our office at 425-788-2953 and we can help you fill that form out.
Again, if you have any questions or need help, call our office or call Pastor Brook at 605-710-7793.
Thank you!
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Week At A Glance: December 5 - December 12
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Sunday, December 5
Virtual- In Person - 10:00 AM
Monday, December 6
PSWTE Reunion group -7pm -9pm
Tuesday, December 7
Virtual Book Study - 9:30 a.m
Pastor Morning Prayer group - 7am-9am
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Wednesday, December 8
Thursday, December 9
Band Practice 5:15pm
Choir Practice 7pm
Friday, December 10
WTE Prayer Group- 12pm- 2pm
Saturday, December 11
Sunday, December 12
Virtual- In Person - 10:00 AM
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Friday Feel Good Song!
T.G.I.F! You have survived the grind and hustle of the work week. It's time to celebrate with the Friday Feel Good Song.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Today's song is 12 Days of Christmas by Pentatonix. The original song came out in 1970 as a chant or rhyme and than later became a song.
COUTNDOWN
Christmas: 22 days
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Worship:
Sundays at 10:00 AM
Office Hours:
Mon, Tue, Fri:
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Wed:
Calls and Emails only
Thu:
8:30 Am - 3:30 PM
Closed Weekends & Holidays
Ph: 425.788.2953
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Have An Announcement?
Do you have something to tell the Bear Creek UMC community? Send us your announcement (60 words or less) and a preferred graphic (if you want one) and we'll place it in our publications.
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